Russatta Buford

𝐃𝐞𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐡, 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐦𝐲 𝐬𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐞𝐭! (𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐞𝐭 𝐠𝐨.) (I'm sharing some CEO experiences in a few short stories -- hoping you'll find a worthwhile nugget or two. Here's story #9) Our head of quality control stopped me in my tracks during a team meeting when she said “Deborah, get out of my spreadsheet!”. It was half-joking, half-serious, and completely necessary. I was WAY too deep into the details. In my early days as a CEO, I was knee-deep in every detail of the business. Do we have product in the right warehouses? Have our influencers received advance product? What’s the final wholesale and retail pricing? Do we have adequate margins? Are all our sales channels ready? I was so engrossed in the minutiae that I lost sight of my own role: to lead, to inspire, to strategize, and to coach. Diving into every detail wasn't my job anymore. Sometimes you MUST micromanage…but how do you know when enough is enough? Once you start, when do you stop? Do you even realize when you are doing it? The shift from doing to leading is tough; letting go of control often is. But it’s essential to give your team room to flourish. “Get out of my spreadsheet” stuck with us. It became a humorous, yet powerful phrase that the team could use when they needed me take a step back. They used it every time I strayed too far – teaching me to step away from Excel and become the leader they needed. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐲? 𝐈𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐚 𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐨𝐨 𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐬, 𝐚𝐬𝐤 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐦 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐚𝐲 “𝐈 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮’𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐬𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐞𝐭” 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮’𝐥𝐥 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐠𝐞.

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This was shared with me via email, and I wanted to pass along! The deadline to apply is November 12th. Call for Applications for Collective Leadership Advancing Racial Equity (CLARE) This 10-month leadership accelerator is designed to invest in the capacity and wellbeing of 20 individuals leading collaborative work in place (e.g., “backbone leaders”). This program will center and prioritize the participation of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) leaders in the U.S. South working in place-based collectives focused on health and racial equity and/or issue-specific health collaboratives such as birth justice and reproductive rights. While the primary focus of the accelerator is on BIPOC leaders, the program welcomes anyone leading collaborative place-based work who is committed to advancing racial equity. For the purposes of this program, the U.S. South is inclusive of the following states: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, DC, and West Virginia. https://lnkd.in/gfB-cKVs

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The new special report from Edelman Trust Barometer on Business and Racial Justice shows once again the critical role employers have to make tangible progress addressing inequity at work. This is one reason so many organziations turn to Catalyst Inc. "Trust in “my employer” to address racial injustice stands out, but the challenge remains for all institutions to navigate these turbulent waters and foster genuine inclusion and equity". https://lnkd.in/g-CMgHuh #Businessimperative #Recommit #Catalyst #TheCatalystEffect

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James H. Johnson Jr.’s perspective is much needed right now. I agree with him that the recent wave of DEI pushback is incredibly short-sighted. Not only does it harm diverse populations, but the attacks from lawmakers do nothing to help the “average white Joe.” A world without DEI is one where we are all worse off. For a quick example of this in practice, let's take a look at college sports. In the coming years, top athletes may elect not to go to schools like Florida State or Ole Miss and instead will find better opportunities at northern schools and their booster systems. By cutting out DEI, these organizations are only hurting themselves. This is a really easy example to illustrate, but it applies to professional contexts outside of sports too. What it comes down to is the more diverse people you have, the more your bottom line is enhanced. #DEI #Justice #HR

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Gearing up for a fundraising campaign can be intimidating, but it doesn't have to be! Check out this new article from CCS Fundraising in which they offer key considerations and advice from four former CCS client partners on how to get started with your next campaign! Check it out here 🔗👉https://lnkd.in/d4GU5xwE   #FundraisingCampaign #Fundraising #Philanthropy #Nonprofits

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Despite the fact that collaborative funds are being talked about as the next big thing in philanthropy, there's still a lot we don't know about their value-add to philanthropy. Often the discussion centers on how they enhance the experience and impact of donors. This new piece from Jennifer Stout draws attention to the importance of examining the experiences of grantees who receive funding from collaborative funds, as compared to their experiences with "direct funders". For The Freedom Fund, our understanding of how grantee partners perceive us largely comes from continuously seeking feedback (more on that here: https://lnkd.in/eEa6u7F6). We also see a big part of our role as identifying and building relationships with groups who have tremendous potential for deep, sustainable impact but who more traditional funders might overlook. As Jen says, we need more research across the field to draw broader conclusions and make the case for why collaborative funds, when structured appropriately, can fill gaps and do things differently.

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“It’s complex, messy, hard, and uncertain, AND we can move our way to a bold future together. Philanthropy must hold onto openness, humility, love, and accountability; without it, it is unlikely that we will meet the full intentions for our work.” Holding space for the uncertainty while making forward progress is, in my humble opinion, one of Building Impact Partners’ unique value adds as a partner for donors who want to support big change. Check out my colleague Tanis Klingler’s new blog post!

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"Orticio argues that, given children’s natural skepticism and early exposure to the internet’s boundless misinformation, it is crucial for adults to teach them practical fact-checking skills. Instead of attempting to completely sanitize their online environment, he said adults should focus on equipping children with tools to critically assess the information they encounter." A great piece by Jason Pohl on equipping kids to fact check what they hear and learn. (We should probaly be equipping some adults with this too!) https://lnkd.in/eJnJpwte

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The latest report on youth homelessness in NYC is devastating but unsurprising for those of us working on the frontlines. In just one year, the number of unsheltered homeless youth has more than doubled, reaching levels we haven’t seen in over a decade. Let me be clear: this is not just a statistic—it’s a failure of our systems to protect our city’s most vulnerable. We are seeing children as young as 14 forced to find safety in subways, fast food joints, and drop-in centers where they can "rest" but not sleep. This crisis demands more than words; it demands action. Our youth need beds—safe, secure places to sleep at night. They need funding for programs that don’t just meet their basic needs but help them heal, grow, and find stability. And they need a city that sees their potential and prioritizes their lives over politics and budgets. Homelessness is solvable, but only if we treat it like the emergency it is. More beds, more funding, and more commitment—this is the least we owe to our young people. The time for half-measures is over. Let’s get to work.

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#csr leaders - this blog post includes important actionable tips for impact admins who are looking to use data to both tell a compelling story of this year’s impact and also to generate actionable insights for next year! I am always happy to chat about how Deed's dashboards and reports make data easy to access, easy to use, and easy to apply by corporate impact teams. #dosomethinggoodtoday #dataforgood #techforgood

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Dear friends and colleagues, I wanted to share my new book, in which I explore the challenges, dilemmas, and opportunities that Jewish Communities face in the 21st century. How are patterns of belonging changing? How can communities (Jewish and others) thrive in a time of hyper-empowered individuals? How can we sustain community in a time of epistemic upheaval? How can religious and cultural traditions provide meaning in a post-ideological world? In this book, I try to explore "how we got here", how the modern individual became what she is today, and then I offer some thoughts on how community leaders can operate in this brave new world. While this analyzes the Jewish Community, it's valuable for every religious, ethnic, and cultural group, as we're all in the same proverbial boat. Enjoy, and please, let me know your thoughts!

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I am a huge advocate of Ranked Choice Voting ("RCV", also called "Instant Runoff" voting). I believe strongly in its ability to reduce political polarization and incentivize candidates to campaign based on their own positives, rather than negatively attacking other candidates. If you're interested in learning more about the details of RCV, I highly recommend this resource from the National Conference of State Legislatures. It doesn't take a position on the matter, just presents various well-researched considerations on RCV.

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We had an amazing collection of proximate voices at PeaceCon 2024. The conversation changes and goes much deeper when those most proximate to the context use their power and voice to name where we should put our focus. Exploring how we rethink how we think about learning and evaluation; diving into how to create infrastructures and cultures of care; and elevating the needs and dreams of those on the front lines all emerged clearly during our time together. This is how we move towards a system where international cooperation on peace is defined by the power and agency of those closest to the context.

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In moments of uncertainty—like staring into the next four years—it’s tempting to hold back, gather more information, avoid risk, and hope for greater clarity. But hesitation is costly, not just for you, but for the outcomes and people you care about. In my latest piece, I explore why action—even imperfect action—is almost always better than inaction. Drawing on experience from fundraising, advocacy campaigns, and crisis communications, I unpack how "waiting" often disguises fear or indecision as prudence, and why simply getting started, talking to each other, and coordinating your efforts is the only way to win. If you've ever wrestled with the impulse to “wait and see,” this might challenge your thinking.

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"As practitioners in the field of gender-based violence, we carry a profound responsibility. Each survivor's journey is unique, deserving our utmost respect and understanding." At Episcopal Relief & Development we underscore the need for compassionate listening and unwavering support. We work towards creating a world where those who have experienced violence feel safe to share their stories, where we challenge the structures that allow violence to persist, and where healing and justice are within reach for all. Check out my reflection on our approach to supporting survivors of gender-based violence and the incredible resilience I witness in those we partner with to #EndGBV #SurvivorSupport #CompassionateCare"

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A must-read post by my colleague Kevin Bolduc! "But as a sector we really need to avoid the continual temptation to assume that we’ve found a transformative new philanthropic approach, or even that there is a single one out there to find. That’s particularly true when that assumption becomes a distraction to the very hard work of understanding the performance of organizations using various approaches — new and old — and improving their implementation! I’ve been around philanthropy long enough to have seen the “next great approach” emerge again and again. Think back to venture philanthropy, social impact investing, collective impact, giving while living, and, more recently, trust-based philanthropy. Each, at moments, has been touted as the “new” approach that could be used by every funder to increase their impact. Even though I think each did bring something fundamentally important to philanthropy, more nuance is required: these are tools that work better and worse depending on the goals and the context of change you’re after."

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The association community, through ASAE: The Center for Association Leadership, has urged both presidential campaigns to recognize and prioritize the contributions of trade and professional associations in their policy agendas. From the letter, associations account for over 1 million jobs, generating more than $71 billion in wages, and hold more than 272,000 events every year that attract nearly 52 million participants and generate $42 billion in spending. Associations also pay almost $28 billion in federal, state and local taxes each year, and events generate an additional $7.5 billion in taxes. https://lnkd.in/g5bkmP7Q #associations #associationmanagement #policy #vote

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Check out this episode with some of our industry's BEST in-class talk about the evolution of the Philanthropic sector.👍🏾#LetsGO #Podcast #PhilanthrophyMatters #DayLightAdvisors 🔥🔥

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